Update on the helmet-swinging incident

Hamburg's Joseph Cominsky is tackled by Annville-Cleona's Trace Seiple during the first half of the football game on Sept. 6. Cominsky is accused of ripping the helmet off of Annville-Cleona offensive lineman Josh Hartman and hitting him with it. (LEBANON DAILY NEWS FILE JEREMY LONG)

ANNVILLE - The Annville-Cleona School Board and superintendent offered little comment Thursday about an incident last Friday when a football player from another school apparently ripped the helmet off an A-C football player and then struck him in the head with it.

Speaking at the conclusion of the board's work session, Vice President Gordon Waldhausen said he was relieved to learn that there is a very defined process for dealing with such situations, and that the process began Friday night.

"That process is defined by the PIAA, and both the Annville-Cleona School District and the Hamburg School District have been very cooperative in following that process and getting the best solution - the best solution being what's best for the students involved," he said.

The incident occurred during the third quarter of last Friday's football game between Hamburg High School and Annville-Cleona High School at A-C's stadium in South Annville Township. During an on-field scuffle, Hamburg senior quarterback/safety Joseph Cominsky ripped the helmet off of Annville-Cleona offensive lineman Josh Hartman.

In a video of the incident taken by WGAL TV-8, Cominsky can be seen twice swinging the helmet at Hartman. With the second swing, Cominsky can be seen striking Hartman on his head with the helmet while Hartman was lying on his back.

Afterwards, Hartman lay on the ground for a few moments, then got up and walked toward the sideline holding his head. He received a laceration to his scalp and was eventually cleared to return to the game.Cominsky was ejected from the game.

Annville-Cleona senior running back Taylor Prentice was also ejected for throwing several punches into a crowd of players after the helmet-swinging incident.

South Annville Township police Chief Ben Sutcliffe announced Tuesday that he had opened a criminal investigation into the incident. However, he said, it would be a lengthy investigation because there are a number of witnesses who have to be interviewed, and it could be some time before he determines if charges should be filed.

The PIAA's District 3 announced Tuesday that, although it has the power to ask for information from the schools, it is allowing both schools to handle the matter internally at this time. District 3 has not scheduled a hearing on the incident, although it could do so at a later date.

Superintendent Steven Houser said at Thursday's meeting that it would be inappropriate to comment on a potential punishment for Cominsky.

"We expect the PIAA, who has dealt with disciplining students for a long period of time, to handle that and to do that, and I wouldn't want to make a valued judgment on their judgment as they gather all the data," he said. "They gather all the data from both sides and then make a judgment. I think it wouldn't be appropriate for us to say, 'Well, they were wrong or they were right.'"

Houser said there has been communication between the two districts, but did not elaborate.

"Obviously we can't discipline a student that's not ours," he said. "We had a student that was ejected, and we'll deal with that, and they must deal with their student."

Meanwhile, Houser said, Hartman is fine. He was examined by the team physician and trainer and went back into the game after the incident.

"He finished the game, and he has been practicing this week," Houser said.